Braid former



June 21, 1938. w. J. CRFT, JR 2,121,071

. I BRAID FORMER Filed Jan. 20, 1936 IN VEN TOR.

A TTORNEYS. l

CAD

Patented June 21,l 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEl BRAID FORMER tion of Massachusetts Application January 20,

11 Claims.

This invention relates to a braiding machine, more particularly to a braid former; and has for .one of its objects the bettering of the appearance of the braid as it is formed by minimizing irregular places and smoothing out any of the threads which might be interlaced by dierent tensions so as to provide an even surface appearance.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a device which will enlarge the width of the braid and yet not weaken the braid to the same extent as where such widening effect is caused by a spit or central needle over which the braid is sometimes formed.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a braid widening device which will eliminate the troubles attendant with the use of a needle or spit about which the braid may form when rthe braiding focus .lowers which may take place due to a slowing down of the rate of travel of the braiding carriers of the machine.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a device which will have a positive spring tension which will be flexible for the accommodation of braids o f different dimensions without distorting the device to such an extent that a wide variation of pressure may be expected as a result of heavy braids being passed through the device.

With these and other objects in View, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, as will be more fully described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawing:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the upper portion of a braiding machine showing my improved device in position; Y

Fig. 2 is a sectional view through my improved braid former and showing a fragmental portion of the `drop former stud;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the former;

Fig. 4 is va sectional view of the body portion of the former; f

Fig. 5 is a sectional view on line 5-5 of Fig, 3 showing the movable member in mounted position;

Fig. 6 is a top plan view of the widened and attened braid which is made in the machine;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view thereof.

In `the formation of braids, it is frequently desirable that the braid be made as wide and flat as possible with the material used; and in order to accomplish this purpose, the braid is usually formed over the end of a needle or spit which stands up in the middle of the machine to a height just above the braiding point so that the 1936, Serial No. 59,837

braid is formed about the end of this spit and then slides therefrom. It is known in braiding machines that the braiding focus changes with the speed of the machine and that when the machine slows down the braiding focus will lower so that if the machine slows down' for one reason or another, such as the variation in power, the braid will form about the spit at a lower point than is possible for the take-up rolls to pull the braid off of the spit and such forming around this spit is so tight that it must be out therefrom and the work pieced up in order that the machine may be further operated. Then again, this needle or spit is not firm but will shake during the operation of the machine, which causes an irregular line or edge of the braid to be formed.

Ironing devices consisting of U-shaped spring wires are highly unsatisfactory and seldom used; and in order to attainv the vadvantages of braiding over a needle or spit and of an ironing device, I have provided a pair of members'which are positively moved together and carried by the braid former which serve to spread out or increase the width of the braid and also to iron it; and I have found that the braid is effectively spread by this improved means and also possesses about greater breaking strength. than where the same yarns are woven over a needle or spit;

and rthe following is a more detailed description ,of the present embodiment of this invention, il-

lustrating the preferred means by which these advantageous results may be accomplished:

With reference to the drawing, I0 designates lthe drop former stud of a braiding machine vwhich is suitably supported from the frame of the machine. The take-up rolls I2 and rI3 are suitably mounted and driven from the shaft I I in a known manner, not specically here shown, and the braid is packaged upon a reel I4 suitably driven from a portion of the braiding machine in a known manner.

The former designated generally `lli consists `of a body portion I5 having a slot at its end I7 to receive the reduced threaded portion I8 of Ythe stud III and engage the shoulder I9 thereof where it is held by means of washerZD and nut 2 I. The outer end of the former is provided with an opening 22 which is beveled as'at 23 for the passage of the work therethrough. The body will be so adjusted as to height that the braiding focus will be within theopening 22. At the outer end of this body I 6 an integral member 24 is provided having a surface 25 which is in a plane at one side of the center of the opening 22 to engage the braid 33. A supporting portion 26 also stands up from the body |6 and the member 24 and portion 26 are provided with aligned bores 21 and 28 in spaced relation to receive the guide rods 29 and 30 upon which the movable member 3| is slidably mounted. The edge 32 of this member engages the opposite side of the braid 33 so that the samewill be positioned substantiallycentrally of the opening 22. In order to urge the slidable member 3| into this pressing relation, springs 34 are provided encircling the rods 29 and 30 and acting between the surface 35 of the slid-y able member 3I and the surface 36 of the upstanding portion 26 so as to yieldingly force the member 3| into engagement with the Work 33.

As it is desired that the braid shall extend vertically upwardly in a plane substantially parallel to these surfaces and 32 I have provided a guide ring 31 positioned directly vertically above the opening 22 a short distance such for instance as one and three-quarters inches, although other suitable distances may be had, and supported by means of an L-shaped arm 38 threadingly engaging the threaded opening 39 in the upstanding portion 26 Where it is secured by check nut 40.

The braid which would be formed generally of cylindrical tubular form will by means of the pressure exerted upon it between the members 24 and 3| be attened out to a considerable extent as illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7, and the pressure of the members 24 and 3| will also iron out any irregularities which might have been caused by a different tension on the braiding threads li and cause the same to be of a very even appearance. Further, by reason of the more rigid support for the former with no vibrating spit on which the braid is formed a straighter edge for the work is provided than has heretofore been usual where such a spit or needle has been used.

The foregoing description is directed solely towards the construction illustrated, but I desire it to be understood that I reserve the privilege of resorting to all the mechanical changes to which the device is susceptible, the invention being dened and limited only by the terms of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a braiding machine, a braid former comprising a body portion, a pair of members for engaging the opposite sides of the Work, `rods for slidably mounting one of said members for movement toward and from the other member, and spring means for urging one member along said rods toward the other.

2. In a braiding machine, a braid former co-mprising a body portion having an opening therethrough, a member integral with the body covering a portion of said opening, a member slidably mounted on said body movable toward said integral member, and resilient means for electing movement of said movable member toward' said integral member.

3. In a braiding machine, a braid former comprising a body portion having an opening therethrough, a member integral with the body covering a portion of said opening, a pair of rods supported by said member, a portion raised on said body, a movable member slidable on said rods,

and springs -encircling said rods for moving the me-mber mounted thereon therealong.

4. In a braiding machine, a braid former comprising a body portion having an opening therethrough, a member integral with the body covering a portion of said opening, a pair of rods supported by said member, a portion raised on said body, a movable member slidable on said rods, springs encircling said rods for moving the member mounted thereon th-erealong, and a guide above said members for directing the work vertically upwardly through said members.

5. The method comprising braiding a plurality of yarns without a pin or core and immediately passing the braid so formed between non-rotative pressing surfaces located at the braiding point.

6. In a braiding machine, a braid former having an aperture therein free from a pin and near one side of which the braid is formed, and a pair of non-rotative, relatively resiliently mounted generally plane ironing members through which the braid passes immediately upon being formed.

7. In a braiding machine, a braid former having a xed apertured' body so arranged that the threads to be braided extend upwardly through its aperture, substantially plane opposed ironing surfaces relatively resiliently mounted at the upper end of said aperture, said body having beveled edges surrounding the lower end of said aperture.

8. In a braiding machine, a support, a braid former comprising a body portion adjustably secure-d to said support, a pair of non-rotative members on said body portion and free from operating parts between them for engaging the opposite sides of the work adjacent the braiding focus, and resilient means for moving one of said members toward the other for pressing the work between them.

9. In a braiding machine, a support, a braid former comprising a body portion adjustably secured to said support, a pair of non-rotative members on said body portion and free fromY operating parts between them for engaging the opposite sides of the work adjacent the braiding focus, and a helical spring for moving one of said members toward the other for pressing the work between them.

l0. In a braiding machine, a support, a braid former comprising a body portion adjustably secured to said support, a pair of non-rotative members on said body portion and free from operating parts between them for engaging the opposite sides of the work adjacent the braiding focus, and a pair of helical springs for moving one of said members toward the other for pressing the work between them.

ll.. In a braiding machine, a support, a braid former comprising a body portion adjustably secured to said support, a pair of block members on said body portion and free from operating parts between them for engaging the opposite sides of the work adjacent the'braiding focus, means for slidably mounting one of said members for movement toward and from the other member, and spring means for urging one member toward the other.

WALTER J. CROFI', JR. 

